We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

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18th Annual NCAC Scout Orienteering Meet

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REGISTER: https://scoutingevent.com/082-2023ScoutOrienteering

Join us for NCAC’s  18th Annual Scout Orienteering Meet on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Kings Landing Park. Test out your troop or crew member’s navigation skills at this exciting map and compass competition. Scouts and Crew members will compete in age groups and different course levels in the morning as individuals. The afternoon event is designed around competing as a unit (Troop or Crew) to gather the greatest score over the other scouting units. This event is open to all Scouts BSA Troops, Venturing Crews, and other appropriately aged Scouting groups; the minimum age for this event is 10 and a half years old.

The morning sessions will include an instruction Orienteering course for Scouts new to the sport, competitions in one of four levels of orienteering courses, and other skill-building competitive events. Each Scout pair will have an opportunity to choose two events in the morning. We strongly recommend instruction take place at a unit level prior to your arrival. The instructional Orienteering course is a “no compete, no awards” hands-on teaching course that your scouts can learn by using the Teaching EDGE method to learn the art of Orienteering. To ensure fairness, competition will also be broken into two age groups for most events in the morning, under 14 years of age and Scouts 14 years of age or older. Venturing Crews with members over 18 years old may be scored as a third grouping based on judging decisions on the day of the event. After a brief break at 1 pm, the afternoon event will be a 90-minute Orienteering score course. The afternoon event is a unit based competition with youth leadership taking charge of their units in planning and directing their teams. The event will be completed with awards from the morning events at 5:00 pm.

The cost is $10 per youth and includes an event patch for all youth participants. Adults may purchase patches at cost on the day of the event pending availability.

This event is run by volunteers from and supported by the NCAC and has the added experience of help from the Quantico Orienteering Club.

 

 

 

NCAC 2023 Summer Camp Webinar: Scouts BSA

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March 21, 2023: Scouts BSA Summer Camp

Missed the webinar? You can view a recording of it below.

In this webinar, learn about the different summer camp options available for both Troops and individuals (aka provisional Scouts) at the various camps around NCAC – from Thurmont, MD to Haymarket, VA to Goshen, VA – and find out everything you need to know as a leader or parent/guardian to prepare for a week-long camp!

Download the slides from the webinar here: Scouts BSA Camp Webinar slides [PDF]

Get more information on the various Scouts BSA Summer Camps:

If you missed the first webinar in the series on Cub Scout Summer Camp options, you can find that here: weownadventure.com/ncac-2023-summer-camp-webinar-cub-scouts/

The final webinar in the series will be on High Adventure on March 28 at 7pm EST. See our earlier post to register in advance: weownadventure.com/upcoming-webinar-series-summer-camp-2023/

Scout Reach Camp Days in the US Virgin Islands

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Scouts from Claude O’Markoe School in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) visited Camp Wall as part of NCAC’s Scout Reach program.

Although the school is for 1st – 5th graders, most of the Cub Scouts are in third and fourth grade.

During the camp days, the Scouts did some fun outdoor group games and kids learned “repeat after me” camps songs. When the United States and the Virgin Island flags were raised, the Scouts learned why. Scouts also learned how to tie a couple of useful knots that they now can use in their everyday lives. During camp, the Scouts talked about the importance of the Scout Oath and Law and how both can be applied to everyday life in the territory. Because Scouts are helpful, they also did a beach cleanup to give back to the environment. Both camp days were loud, wild, beneficial, and most of all, super fun for the kids too!

This Pack is made possible by generous donors who are dedicated to continuing our Scouting program in the USVI.

Pinewood Derby Excitement at Scouting Cares

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Through NCAC’s Scouting Cares program, we conducted Pinewood Derby races in early February with both the 1st and 3rd grades at Suitland Elementary School.

 

Scouts were given precut Pinewood Derby cars in the shape of wedges then Scouts spent two meetings completing their cars. Weights were offered and they could decide exactly how to modify the weight of their cars in order to increase their chances of winning. The students installed their wheels and then proceeded to paint and put stickers on their cars.

In addition to the fun of the Pinewood Derby competition, the first grade Scouts learned about speed and velocity with their first grade teacher.

The Pinewood Derby was enjoyed by all!

 

 

Potomac District Welcomes Four New Eagle Scouts

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Congratulations to the four new Eagle Scouts and their proud families from NCAC Potomac District who completed their Eagle Board of Review Saturday March 18th. Thank you for those who assisted these Scouts on their journey to reach the Eagle Rank!

The new Eagle Scouts and his/her proud family might find the following websites useful.

http://usscouts.org/eagle/eaglecongrats.asp

https://oa-bsa.org/resources/ucl-support/summit-award-congratulatory-letter

https://oa-bsa.org/resources/ucl-support/eagle-scout-congratulatory-letter

The Association of Top Achiever Scouts (ATAS) is a worldwide Scouting fellowship group, of Scouts and Scouters who have achieved the highest rank as a youth in their Scout associations such as King’s Scout, Queen’s Scout, President’s Scout, Fuji Scout, Tiger Scout, Eagle Scout, Summit, Quartermaster.
https://www.atasapr.org

National Women’s History Month : NCAC’s Christa Waterwiese

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NCAC would like to take this month to highlight Christa Waterwiese an amazing woman that make our Scouting Program outstanding! She currently serves NCAC as the Senior District Executive for Washington, D.C..

Christa  has been involved in Scouting most of her life and was inspired to pursue a career in Scouting. She shared:
” I was always aware that a career in Scouting was possible, but not what it entailed until college. When I graduated in summer of 2019, I went to spend a final summer as the Aquatics Director of Swift High Adventure Base in the Greater Saint Louis Area Council. That summer, several Scouting professionals came down to camp and took interested staff to a dinner in town to learn about career Scouting. While some folks definitely went for the free (non-camp) meal, there were several that were truly interested in possibility. At the end of the summer, I jetted off to the World Scout Jamboree and then Richmond, VA to move in with my long-term girlfriend. In a brand-new city, I turned to what always brought me comfort: Scouting. I learned of an opening in Heart of Virginia Council through a mentor and applied. The rest is history.”

Christa also recalled volunteers and Scouters that provided guidance in her Scouting Journey.

She stated: “My childhood Council had a strong Venturing program, and I had the fortune to be behind a fantastic cohort of female youth leaders. I was truly inspired by their work and many of them went on to become Regional and National Venturing Officers. A few key members of this group took the time to mentor my growing interest; driving me to meetings all over the city, recommending NYLT and NAYLE, and championing my decisions to run for various District, Council, and Area positions.

Two adults I want to acknowledge are Lisa Abernathy and Jenn Hancock. Lisa was my Camp Director at Swift and whose integrity and work ethic I continuously strive to emulate. Jenn is the type of woman who blazes ahead and looks behind her to bring other women along. Both provided me with valuable lessons, modeled a life lived by the Scout Oath and Law, and generously gave me opportunities based on my potential. I would not be where I am today without these two women.”

When asked what representation  in the world of Scouting means to her, Christa replied:

“Representation means belonging. When you see others like yourself in Scouting, the little voice of imposter ridden concern finally starts to dissipate. To this day, I still look around the room to count the number of female heads. To this day, I still hesitate before mentioning “my wife” in discussions. While I am delighted with the progress Scouting has made (progress I did not think I would see before my future kids were in the program) that does not mean there is not work to be done. If I want to achieve my goal- that every child has the opportunity to join Scouting- I need to ensure that every child knows they are welcome in the program. And that means moving Scouting towards a place where its adult leadership is representative of the US citizenry. Representation means bringing the local community together to champion the future of our young people, a future Scouting can change for the better.”

Please help NCAC honor Christa who continues to make a great impact in our Scouting Community.